Uttar Pradesh's notorious mafia don turned politician, Mukhtar Ansari, died on Thursday. He was rushed to the medical college after sudden health deterioration in Banda Jail, where he died around 8:25 PM reportedly due to a heart attack. Ansari had also been detained in Punjab's Ropar Jail for some time.
Under the government of Congress's Captain Amarinder Singh, Mukhtar Ansari was lodged in Punjab's Ropar Jail from January 2019 until April 2021. The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, petitioned the Supreme Court, accusing the Punjab government of shielding Ansari. Discover the events that led Mukhtar Ansari to Punjab's jail and how Uttar Pradesh's government seamlessly orchestrated his transfer to Banda Jail through legal maneuvers.
Extortion charges and Mukhtar Ansari's time in Ropar Jail
Following a CEO's complaint of forced extortion (under Indian Penal Code Section 386) and criminal intimidation (IPC Section 506), Ansari was imprisoned in Punjab Jail since January 2019. The CEO reported to the Mohali SSP that on the evening of January 9, 2019, he received a call demanding a payment of 10 crores, asserting that it was recorded. Police registered an FIR, naming Ansari in the charges.
Soon after the case was registered, Punjab police transferred Mukhtar Ansari from UP's Banda Jail on a production warrant.
Source: aajtak
On March 26, 2021, the Supreme Court directed the Punjab government to hand over the custody of Mukhtar Ansari to the UP government within two weeks after hearing a petition filed by the UP government. The court, during the hearing, noted that a convict or undertrial, who does not respect the law of the land, cannot oppose a transfer from one jail to another and when the rule of law is challenged, courts should not remain passive spectators.
The twist took place on April 3, when Punjab's Home Ministry department communicated with UP government officials to negotiate the custody transfer of Mukhtar Ansari from Ropar Jail. Punjab's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Anurag Agarwal penned a letter to UP ACS (Home) Avanish Kumar Awasthi, indicating that the transfer from Ropar Jail could be executed.
What was the UP government's basis for demanding Mukhtar Ansari's transfer?
In a hearing on February 24, 2021, the UP government informed the Supreme Court that the Punjab government was 'shamelessly protecting' BSP legislator Mukhtar Ansari, who was facing trials in 10 heinous cases such as murder, extortion, and fraud, by not handing him over to custody. In October 2020, Alka Rai, wife of BJP legislator and former legislator Krishnanand Rai (murdered in 2005), accused the Punjab government of aiding Mukhtar in evading court appearances in a letter to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. UP government also mentioned to the court that Ansari was named as the principal conspirator in Krishnanand's murder case, although Delhi's special court acquitted him in 2019.
Why did the Punjab government want to keep Mukhtar Ansari in their jail?
The Punjab Jail Department argued that a panel of doctors had advised 'Mukhtar Ansari not to travel long distances.' One official stated that in 2019, PGIMER, Chandigarh and in September 2020, a panel of three doctors in Ropar district had recommended rest for him.
While Punjab contested the writ petition filed by UP under Article 32 of the Constitution, claiming that only individuals—not states—have the right to seek protection of their fundamental rights, and not the state, which holds no such rights. On the other hand, the UP government told the Supreme Court that transferring Mukhtar to a Punjab jail seemed strategically planned and raised suspicions of conspiring to delay proceedings.
Former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, OP Singh indicated widespread rumors and a high alert status across the state. The police and administration remain vigilant in areas such as Ghazipur, Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, and Varanasi. Singh mentioned Mukhtar's medical-based applications while imprisoned in Punjab, presumably to avoid UP court appearances citing his prolonged illness. He firmly refuted the allegations of poisoning, stating that the truth would emerge after an autopsy. Mukhtar Ansari was a criminal, don, a mafia, and his death should not be overthought, added Singh.
